Calling solidarity: Christians in the Holy Land need support!

Calling solidarity: Christians in the Holy Land need support!

In an impressive message, a high -ranking delegation of the ecumenical council of the churches in Austria (ÖRKÖ) appealed to their Christian sisters and brothers in the Holy Land to ask for more support from the West. During their trip, they saw the pressing challenges with which the Christian communities are confronted. According to the reports of kathpress.at it is of central importance that pilgrims from the west travel back to the holy country and their hope to give hope To show solidarity. In particular, the presence of pilgrims could contribute to calming the tensions between different religious communities and the numerous negative reporting on attacks against Christians in the region.

a sign of hope and solidarity

The delegation, which also included prominent dignitaries such as the Armenian-Apostolic Bishop Tiran Petrosyan and the Linz Bishop Manfred Scheuer, illuminates the precarious situation in Jerusalem and the surrounding regions. According to reports from aleteia.org the hope of peace is still fragile, especially with regard to the recent conflicts and the accompanying economic challenges in West Bank. The British bishops, which recently visited the Holy Land, also underlined the need for international support and the importance of pilgrimages. The bishops expressed: "We came to say that you are not alone; that you are not forgotten." These words should encourage Christians in the region and strengthen their resistance.

In Bethlehem, the delegation met various projects that help those in need, including the Caritas Baby Hospital, which is the only children's clinic in the area. The director of the hospital, ISSA Bandak, explained that many people cannot use medical care due to the street blocks. At the same time, with the construction of a new pediatric surgery in 2026, he sees a ray of hope in the difficult situation of the hospital. The situation of the Christians in the Holy Land requires urgent attention, and both the örkö and the British bishops ask to travel to the region as a sign of hope and solidarity in order to strengthen the local communities.